Camp stove and burner construction therefor



United States Patent on 3,538,907

[72] Inventors Cadet E- Bowman; 2,573,502 Iii/I951 Smith l26/2l4-Xwill!!! J- ROIMII, Sycamore, Illinois 2,638,976 5/1953 Vixler 43 "346K[2 l] Appl. No. 783,007 2,954,024 9/1960 Webster l26/38 [22] Filed Dec.H, 1968 3,405,703 l0/l968 AXCISSOII Cl 8.1 126/38 pufmted 1970 PrimaryExaminerCharles .l. Myhre [73] Awgnee By meme assignments 9Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross and Simpson Stamford, Connecticut,a corporation of Virginia [54] CAMP STOVE AND BURNER CONSTRUCTION [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,232,482 2/l941 126/3911ABSTRACT: A burner assembly constructed to be a self-contained, unitarystructure made of simple economically produced elements and having wideutility in difi'erent forms of camp stoves. The burner assembly includesa base member forming a coupling connector, a reflector attached to thebase member and having an inlet passageway for connection with a fuelsource, and an inverted dish shaped, apertured burner engaging saidreflector for cooperating therewith to form a chamber for receiving thefuel from the supply source. The burner grill is formed by two simplestrip form members shaped to provide a support for cooking utensilsabove the flame area. The reflector may be eliminated in favor of a flatsupporting surface in a multiple burner stove arrangement CAMP STOVE ANDBURNER CONSTRUCTION THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to a burner construction utilizingpropane or other fuel and having special utility in a camp stove.

2. Description of the Prior Art Burner assemblies for propane operatedcamp stoves described in the prior art are usually mounted in a boxlikestructure with is separately supported grill providing a supportingsurface above the flame area for cooking utensils. Thus, these prior artdevices require transporting both the burner assembly and the boxlikeframe for supporting the grill. It should be appreciated that a camperwill frequently desire to quickly set up a burner for a short heatingoperation, for example-to prepare coffee. In accordance with prior artteachings, the camper would have to assemble the box frame and connectthe propane source to the burner assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A burner assembly, constructed in accordancewith the present invention, generally includes a base member formed tobe connectable to an outlet fitting of a propane cylinder for providingan inlet passageway for the burner assembly, a reflector attached to thebase member, an inverted cupshaped, apertured burner engaging thereflector in a manner to form a fuel receiving chamber, and grillforming supporting members directly attached to the burner for providinga sup porting surface above the flame area for cooking utensils. It iscontemplated by the present invention that the base member be a hollowtubular member which may be easily fabricated on a screw machine, whilethe reflector, burner and support members may be convenientlyeconomically stamped or otherwise formed from sheet metal. Thus, thepresent invention provides a burner assembly for a camp stove which iseconomical to manufacture and which includes an integral grill made oftwo metal strips standing on edge and bent to form support wings forsupporting the article to be heated.

The burner assembly described hereinabove may be directly attached to anoutlet fitting of a throwaway propane tank, thereby to form a compactand easily assembled single-burner camp stove. It should also be notedthat the burner assembly may be easily transported and stored.

Furthermore. in accordance with the present invention. a camp stovehaving multiple burner units may be economically and quickly constructedby attaching a series of burner assemblies, as described hereinabove, toa manifold which is in fluid communication with a fuel source. Since theburner assembly has an integrally formed grill for supporting thecooking utensils above in the flame area, single or multiple unit campstoves utilizing this burner assembly need not have an auxiliary boxlikestructure for providing a surface to support the cooking utensil. Amultiple burner unit camp stove utilizing the principles of the presentinvention may be easily and readily disassembled into its componentparts, namely, the self-contained integral burner assemblies, themanifold, manifold support members, and a throwaway propane fuel bottle,thereby eliminating the necessity for transporting a bulky, boxlikestructure.

The burner assembly of the present invention may also be disposed in anopening of a flat plate surface and the grill strips disposed on edge sothat a supporting grill is positioned directly on the flat surface. Insuch an arrangement, the flat plate takes the place of the cup-shapedreflector.

Therefore, the present invention provides a simple and reliable basicburner assembly which may be variously adapted to form a single-burnercamp stove or multiple-unit camp stoves of different types, for example,multiple burners on a single manifold tube or multiple burners on a flatsupport surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification and in which like reference characters areemployed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a camp stove including a burnerassembly constructed according to the principles of the presentinvention and attached to a throwaway propane fuel cylinder to form asingle-unit camp stove;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a burner assembly embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along lines Ill-Ill of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view, in section, illustrating the individualcomponents forming the novel burner assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a multiple-unit camp stove wherein amanifold tube is provided with multiple burner units including thecup-shaped reflectors;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the camp stove illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a multiple-unit camp stove whereinmultiple burner units are assembled directly on a flat supportingsurface; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines VIII-VIII of F IG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, andfirst particularly referring to FIGS. I through 4, inclusive, there isshown a single-unit camp stove generally designated as 10. The singleunit camp stove 10 includes a burner assembly II attached to a fuelcontrol valve 12, which, in turn, is connected to a standard throwawaypropane fuel cylinder 13. The fuel cylinder I3 includes an outletfitting to which is connected the valve 12 which is opened by a manualactuating knob 12a to permit the passage of fuel through the controlvalve 12 to a point of utilization.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the burnerassembly 11 is directly attached to an outlet side of the control valveI2. To permit the burner assembly 11 to be directly attached to thecontrol valve 12, the burner assembly includes a base member 15 havingan internally threaded portion engageable with a correspondingexternally threaded fitting I4 formed on the control valve.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 through 4, the burner assembly showngenerally at 11 and constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, includes the base member 15, a reflector 16, an invertedcup-shaped burner 17 having apertures 18 and support members I9.

The base member I5 comprises an elongated hollow article formed from barstock having a hexagonal cross section, thereby providing three pairs ofopposed side surfaces suitable for engagement with a tool to facilitategripping the base member 15. A through-bore 22 has an enlargedinternally threaded portion 21 extending axially of the elongated basemember 15. In order to supply combustion supporting air for mixture withthe fuel, a series of radially extending air passageways 23 are formedwithin the base member 15 and intersect the bore 22. The air passageways23 may be selectively opened or closed by adjusting the extent ofengagement of the threaded portion 21 with the outlet fitting 14 formedon the control valve I2. In this manner, the appropriate amount of airmay be mixed with the fuel to provide the proper air-fuel mixture forsustaining combustion. A reduced end portion 24, opposite the threadedinlet portion 21, provides an annular shoulder 26 and is externallythreaded as at 27.

The reflector I6 comprises a sheet-form member in which is formed acentrally disposed aperture 29 having a diameter sized to receive thereduced end portion 24 of the base member 15 in fitted relationship. Thereflector I6 is formed into a cup-shaped configuration, and inparticular provides a generally circular bottom wall 31 forming asurface for upwardly reflecting heat generated by the burner and anupstanding side wall 32 having a generally parti-sphericalconfiguration. The bottom wall 31 is embossed to form an annular ridge33 providing a shallow cup-shaped recess 34. The ridge 33 provides anannular, outwardly projecting conical wall surface 36.

The reflector 16 is fitted over the reduced end portion 24 of the basemember with the centrally disposed aperture 29 engaging the reduced endportion 24, and a nut 37 threadingly engages the threads 27 formed onthe reduced end portion of the base member. A pair of washers 38 and 39are disposed on opposite sides of the reflector 16 so that the reflectoris clamped in an assembled relationship with the base member 15.

The burner 17 comprises a sheet-form member having a generally invertedcup-shaped configuration providing a flat circular top wall portion 41and depending side walls 42 having a generally divergent conicalconfiguration. The depending side walls 42 provide an interior conicalsurface 43 shaped to closely fit over the conical wall surface 36 of theridge 33, thereby to form a sealed chamber 44 between an interiorsurface of the burner 17 and the shallow depression 34 of the reflector16.

The chamber 44 formed between the reflector 16 and the burner 17receives an air-fuel mixture through the throughbore 22 formed at thebase member 15. The apertures 18 provided in the depending side wall 42of the burner 17 are disposed in staggered relationship on two or morerows, thusly to form alternate circumferential rows of fuel portsthrough which the air-fuel mixture received within the chamber 44 isdirected to provide an annular flame pattern for the burner assembly 11.

It is contemplated by the present invention to provide a screen 46fittingly received within the burner 17 to prevent the flame fromblowing back" into the chamber 44. In particular, the screen 46 includesa flat circular top wall 47 and depending side walls 48 having a conicalconfiguration sized to be complementary to and fittingly received withinthe interior conical surface 43 of the burner 17. Additionally, thedepending, conical side walls 48 have a length to permit an annularbottom edge portion 51 to rest on the ridge 33 embossed on the reflector16.

To provide an updraft of air to the burner assembly 11 for assisting thecombustion of the air-fuel mixture escaping through the apertures 18,the reflector 16 includes a series of circumferentially spacedapertures, as at 52, disposed radially outwardly of the ridge 33.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a grill forsupporting a cooking utensil above the flame area is provided by a pairof grill forming support members 19, 19 which are directly attached toand supported by the burner assembly 11. Each support member 19comprises a sheet-form member or metal strip having a generally V-shapedconfiguration in plan view providing a short, medial section or bightportion 54 and a pair of outwardly extending, planar arm sections 56, 56formed at an obtuse angle to the medial section 54. An uppermost edge 57of the medial section 54 and the uppermost edges 58, 58 of the armsections 56, 56 are formed coplanar one to the other, and with the pairof support members 19, 19 properly positioned on the burner 17, theuppermost edges 57 and 58 of one support member 19 is coplanar with theuppermost edges of the other support member, thereby to provide coplanaredges forming a supporting surface above the flame area upon which acooking utensil may be positioned.

Additionally, the outermost end portion of each arm section 56 of thesupport members 19 is notched out, as at 59, to permit the arm sectionto extend beyond the edge of the reflector 16 to provide a supportingsurface having a diameter greater than that of the reflector.

It is contemplated by the present invention to provide attachment meansfor securing each support member 19 directly to the burner assembly 11.The attachment means include a lug or tab 61 extending outwardly of alowermost edge portion of the medial section 54 of each support member19 and having an aperture 62 formed therethrough. The pair of supportmembers 19, 19 are positioned on the circular top wall 41 of the burner17 in diametrically opposed relationship with the pairs of arm sections56 extending generally radially outwardly of the burner. A self-tappingscrew 63 passes through the aperture 62 formed in each tab 61 of thesupport members 19 and engages into aligned apertures formed in the topwall 41 of the burner 17, the top wall 47 of the screen 46 and thebottom wall 31 of the reflector 16, thereby, to securely attach thesupport members to the burner assembly 11.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, asingle-unit camp stove may be formed by threadingly engaging theinternal threads 21 of the base member 15 onto the externally threadedfitting 14 of the control valve 12 which is secured to the outletfitting of a propane tank 13.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 5 and 6, a multiple unit camp stove,generally indicated at 71, may be formed by assembling two or moreburner assemblies 11', constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention, onto a manifold. The multiple unit camp stove 71includes an elongated hollow tube forming a manifold 72 having an inletfitting 73 formed on one end portion thereof for receiving a connector74 to which is connected a flexible conduit providing a fuel passagewayfrom a remote fuel source. Thus, the manifold 72 is, in effect,substituted for the tank 13 and as many burner units as there areopenings in the manifold may be assembled therewith. The individualburner units would be of identical construction to that alreadydescribed and like parts are identified with like numerals to which aprime has been added. In this form of the invention the reflectors 16(or 16') form a part of the burner to reflect and radiate thermal energytoward the area at which the heat is to be concentrated.

It is contemplated by the present invention to provide two or moreseparately controlled fuel outlet passageways onto which burnerassemblies 11' may be attached. Each such separately controlled fueloutlet is provided by forming an internally threaded outlet passagewaythrough a side wall of the manifold for receiving an externally threadedportion of a fuel control valve 12' in a manner similar to that providedfor a standard throwaway propane cylinder. The fuel control valve 12'includes an outlet fitting 14' having an externally threaded portion forthreadingly engaging the threads 21' of the base member 15' of theburner assembly 11.

If it is desired to enhance the stability of the multiple unit campstove 71, a pair of supporting legs 77,77 may be provided as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. As illustrated in FIG. 6, each supporting leg 77 includesa substantially U-shaped medial section 78 forming a cradle to receivean end portion of the manifold 72. Lateral support is provided for themultiple unit camp stove 71 by a pair of laterally outwardly anddownwardly extending leg sections 79,79 attached to the medial section78. One of the leg members 77 is disposed on either end portion of themanifold 72 with the leg section 79 extending outwardly and downwardlyof the manifold, thereby to provide both lateral and longitudinalsupport for the camp stove 71. It should be understood, that the legmembers 77 are detachable from the manifold 72 to facilitate storing andtransporting of the camp stove.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 a flat plate commonto a plurality of burners is substituted for the individual reflectors16 or 16. in other respects, the burner assemblies are the same asalready described so like parts are identified with like numerals butwith a suffix a.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the camp stove 91 includes a pair ofburner assemblies generally comprising a base member 15a, a burner 170,a screen 460, supporting members 19:: providing a supporting surfaceupon which a cooking utensil may be positioned, and a flat platereflector 93. The reflector 93 is a sheet-form member having spacedopenings for receiving burner units therein. A rectangular upper wall 94and two pairs of depending, parallel side walls 96 and 97 formed atright angles to the side wall are provided and form together with thereflector a boxlike frame.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention the reflector93 is embossed to form a pair of annular ridges as at 330 having anoutwardly projecting conical wall surface 36a sized to fittingly engagean interior conical surface 430 of the burner 17a, thereby to form afuel receiving chamber 440.

In the manner described hereinabove for the burner assembly 11, asupport grill is provided above the flame area for receiving a cookingutensil by a pair of grill forming supporting members 190 formed ofsheet metal and each having a substantially V-shaped configuration toprovide a medial section 54a and a pair of obtusely formed leg sections56a. in this embodiment of the present invention, each leg section 560of the support members 19a is characterized by a generally downwardlyextending foot portion 98 formed on an outermost end portion thereof forengaging against the top wall 94 of the reflector 93.

Attachment means are provided for the support members 19a by ahorizontally extending tab 61a formed at right angles to the medialportion 540 of the support members 190 and characterized by an apertureformed therethrough. A selftapping screw 63a passes through eachaperture formed in the tabs 61a and engages appropriately formedapertures in the burner 170, the screen 46a and the top wall 94 of thereflector 93, thereby to securely attach the support members 19a to theburners 17a and to clamp the burner 17a and the screen 460 in anassembled relationship with the reflector 93.

It is contemplated by the present invention to provide a fuel inletpassageway extending from a propane fuel tank indicated generally at 130by means of a tube 101, an elbow 102 having one end portion thereofthreadingly engaging internal threads formed in a through bore of thebase member 150 and having the other end thereof threaded onto one endportion of the tube 101 as at 103, and a fuel control valve 12a havingan outlet end thereof attached to another end portion of the tube 101 asat 104 and also having an inlet end threadingly engaging an outletfitting of the propane tank 13a. Additional combustion supporting airfor mixture with the fuel may be supplied through a series of radiallyextending air passageways as at 106, formed through a side wall of thetube 101. The air passageways 106 may be selectively opened or closed byselective movement of the slip collar 107, thereby to adjust the amountof air mixed with the fuel to provide the proper air-fuel ratio forsustaining combustion.

If it is desired to elevate the camp stove 91, elevating means may beprovided as shown in FIG. 7 wherein is shown a wire form frame work onwhich the reflector 93 is supported. As shown at 109, two identical legsections are fastened together by a pair of brace members 111. The legs109 may be longitudinally spaced so that each leg member engages an endportion of the reflector 93. Additional support may be provided for thecamp stove 91 by a pair of upwardly extending arm members 112,112secured to each brace member 111. Each arm member 112 comprises a wireform spring member disposed to engage an inwardly projecting wallsurface of the pair of depending parallel side walls 96,96 in a mannerto provide two pairs of outwardly biased spring members for engaging thereflector 93 so that the wire form elevating means is retained in anassembled relationship with the reflector 93 by the spring tension.

in accordance with the principles of this embodiment of the presentinvention, a windshield 92 is provided for the camp stove 91 and issupported on the reflector 93. The windshield 92 comprises threesheet-form members including a back wall 114 and a pair of hinged sidewalls 116,116 attached to opposite end portions of the back wall byhinges as at 117. The back wall 114 of the windshield 92 extendsupwardly from a rear edge portion of the reflector 93 and is sized toextend along the length of the reflector. Each side section 116 includesa tapered upper edge as at 119 and is ofa length to extend along eachend portion of the reflector 93. Means for attaching the windshield 92to the reflector 93 is provided by an elongated flange 120 formed atright angle to the back wall 114 at a lower edge portion thereof. Theflange 120 is characterized by a pair of downwardly extending tabs121,121.

The pair of tabs 121,121 engage into a pair of slots 122,122 formed inthe top wall 94 of the reflector 93, thereby to detachably secure thewindshield to the reflector 93. It will be apparent from the abovedescription of the windshield 92 that the same may be detached from thedeflector 93 and the side walls 116 pivoted about the hinges 117 to lieflat against the back wall 114 thereby to facilitate storing andtransporting the windshield separate from the burner assembly.

Also, it should be understood that the elevating means may be detachedfrom the deflector 93, as may the propane fuel tanks 1114, thereby topermit the camp stove to be disassembled into its various componentparts for ease of transporting and storing the unit.

It will be apparent from the above disclosure that the present inventionprovides a burner assembly construction having an integrally formedgrill for providing a supporting surface above the flame area upon whicha cooking utensil may be rested. With a burner assembly formed as thuspro vided, various configurations of camp stoves may be constructedincluding-a single unit, compact camp stove and multiple-unit campstoves either with individual separate reflectors or with a singlecommon reflector plate.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in theart, it should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope ofthe patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably andproperly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

We claim:

1. A camp stove utilizing fuel from a propane cylinder having an outletfitting, comprising:

means forming a reflecting surface;

a burner having an inverted cup-shaped configuration, en-

gaging said reflector to form a fuel-receiving chamber and havingcircumferentially spaced apertures formed therein through which fuelreceived within said chamber is directed for combustion,

coupling means for directly connecting said reflector and said burner tothe outlet fitting of a source of fuel under pressure and having aninlet passageway formed therethrough opening into said chamber;

strip members disposed on edge to form a grill for supporting a cookingutensil in the path of flames extending from said apertures, each saidstrip member including a pair of arm portions extending outwardly from amedial portion at an obtuse angle thereto and from opposite end portionsthereof; and

each said strip member being directly attached to said burner andarranged to provide four outwardly projecting, circumferentially spacedsupporting arms.

2. A camp stove as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by ascreen member having an inverted cup-shaped configuration disposedwithin said chamber and fittingly engaging an interior surface of saidburner to prevent the flame from blowing back into said chamber.

3. A camp stove as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by saidreflector comprising a cup-shaped member having upstanding side wallsand having a circumferential row of apertures formed therein exteriorlyof said burner.

4. A camp stove as defined in claim 1 further characterized by saidreflector comprising a flat plate member having an aperture formedtherein for receiving said burner and said strip members being disposedto overlie said reflector.

5. A camp stove as defined in claim 4 and further characterized by:

an upstanding propane fuel cylinder;

said connecting means including a base member supporting said reflectorand having a through-bore formed therein and forming a portion of saidpassageway; and

a control valve having an upstanding outlet fitting supporting said basemember and an inlet fitting adapted for direct connection to said fuelcylinder, whereby said fuel cylinder forms the sole support for saidreflector and said burner.

6. A camp stove as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said means forming a member having a reflecting surface comprises adisc-shaped member providing a circular bottom wall and upstanding sidewall portions, said circular bottom wall having a centrally disposedaperture formed therethrough opening into said fuel-receiving chamber;

said connecting means comprises:

a control valve having a manual actuating knob, an inlet adapted forconnection to said coupling means and an upwardly opening, threadedoutlet fitting;

an elongated hollow base member having a through-bore formed therein andopening into said chamber, said base also having an inlet end threadedfor direct connection to said threaded outlet fitting of said controlvalve, and an outlet end received in said central aperture', and

clamping means connecting said reflector to said outlet end of saidupstanding base member.

7. A camp stove as defined in claim 1 and further comprising anelongated hollow tube forming a manifold having at least one outletfitting along the length thereof for connection to said coupling means,and like members to carry said manifold on a support surface.

8. A burner assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said means forming a member having a reflecting surface comprises a flatplate having at least one aperture formed therein for receiving a burnerunit in assembly therewith; and

said strip form members being adapted to overlie said plate member andhaving the arms thereof in engagement with the upper surface of saidplate member, thereby to provide a component subassembly suitable forincorporation in a portable camp stove.

9. A burner assembly for use in a camp stove comprising:

means forming a member having a reflecting surface;

a burner member having a flat top wall and offset side walls togetherforming an inverted cup-shaped configuration engaged with said reflectorto form a fuel-receiving chamber and having apertures formed thereinthrough which fuel received within said chamber is directed forcombustion in an annular flame pattern;

a pair of strip-form members each shaped in a V" configuration anddisposed on edge to form a grill to provide support for a cookingutensil; and

fastening means connecting said strip-form members to said flat top wallof said burner member.

[0. A burner assembly as defined in claim 9, further comprising a screenmember disposed within said chamber and having an inverted cup-shapedconfiguration complementally shaped and sized to fittingly engage theinner surface of said burner, to prevent the flame from blowing backinto the interior of said chamber.

11. A burner assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein said means forminga member having a reflecting surface further comprises:

a dish-shaped member providing a circular bottom wall and upstandingside wall having a substantially parti-spherical configuration;

said circular bottom wall having a centrally disposed aperture formedtherethrough opening into said chamber;

said means forming an inlet passageway having a portion passing throughsaid aperture of said circular bottom wall; and

means securing said dish-shaped member to said means forming an inletpassageway.

said burner member having a depending side wall formed with an inwardlyprojecting, substantially cylindrical wall surface sized to fittinglyengage said cylindrical, outwardly projecting wall portion formed bysaid annular ridge for forming a seal therewith.

12. A burner assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein:

said means forming a member having a reflector surface comprising a flatplate having one or more apertures formed therein for receiving a burnerunit in assembly therewith; and

said strip form members being adapted to overlie said plate member; and

thereby to provide a component subassembly suitable for incorporation ina portable camp stove.

13. A burner assembly for use in a camp stove comprising:

means forming a member having a reflecting surface;

a burner member having a flat top wall and offset side walls togetherforming an inverted cup-shaped configuration engaged with said reflectorto form a fuel-receiving chamber and having apertures formed thereinthrough which fuel received within said chamber is directed forcombustion in an annular flame pattern;

said means forming a member having a reflecting surface embossed to forman annular ridge providing a substantially cylindrical, outwardlyprojecting wall portion; and

said burner member having a depending side wall formed with an inwardlyprojecting, substantially cylindrical wall surface sized to fittinglyengage said cylindrical, outwardly projecting wall portion formed bysaid annular ridge for forming a seal therewith.

